Supporting means for drawers for articles of furniture



May I3, 1930. c. F. WOLTERS 1,758,550

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR DRAWERS FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE I FiledDec. 19254 Sheets-Sheet 'l May 13, 1930. c. F. WOLTERS 1,758,550

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR DRAWERS FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 1925 4Sheets-She et 2 3 [/V VENTOR.-

I BY

A TTORNE yx.

y 1930- c. F. WOLTERS 1,758,550

SUPPORTING MEAN FOR DRAWERS FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 192s 4Sheets-Sheet s 'HHHHIIIHIII'I o E (y n i v WHWIHIH HH HH 23 9 f 7%INVENTOR.

ZWZMW I ATTORNEYJ.

May 13, 1930. c. F. WOLTERS SUPPORTING MEANS FOR DRAWERS FOR ARTICLESFURNITURE Filed Decv 5, 1925 4 SheetsSheet Hana -'1".

INVAEVNTOR ulihwau ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE i CARL R'WQLTERS, F MARIETTA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO REM- INGTON RAND INC., 0! NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIONOF DELAWARE sheet steel bent into forms to make the combi- SUPPORTINGMEANS FOR DRAWERS FQR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Application filed December5, 1925. Serial No. 73,325.

This invention relates to what are generally classified as drawersuspension means employed in suspending a drawer in a cabinet or otherarticle of furniture in such a way that, even though heavily loaded, thedrawer may move freely and easily on suitable bearings, and so adjustedthat the drawer may be fully withdrawn from its housing to permit freeaccess to the contents of the drawer. The invention particularly relatesto that class of drawer suspension means wherein supporting elements aresecured to the side walls of the container, and corresponding supportingmeans are secured to the side walls of the drawer, and interposedbetween the supporting means is a floating element or member sorelatedjto the other elements as to cause a differential movementbetween the elements, by reason of which one movable element moves attwice the speed of the other movable element.

As previously stated, devices of this nature are well known in the art,but, so far as applicant is informed, in all such devices recourse hasbeen had to frictional engagement between the elements composing thestructure in order to obtain the necessary traction between suchelements so as to cause one to drive the other as the drawer iswithdrawn from its casing or returned thereto.

These structures are uniformly made of nation of parts 'coacting, asheretofore stated. One of the difliculties involved by reason of suchconstruction is the fact that the sheet metal varies in thickness, andin the bending and constructing of the various parts, it is not possibleto so form them as to make perfect.

registry or alignment between the various ele inoperative and fails tofunction in the way intended. umerous compensating devices have beenapplied, but without an entirely satisfactory result.

One of the objects of this invention is to eliminate the use offrictional contacts for the purpose of establishing tractional engage--ments.- This is accomplished by interposing between the movableelements positive driving means, consisting in this particular instanceof a stationary rack, a pinion mounted on a movable element to engagesuch stationary rack, and a rack mountedon a movable element alsoadapted to engage such pinion, so that, when the parts arebrought intocooperative relation and moved in the manner familiar in such devices,as above indicated,

instead of being dependent on any frictional engagement, they will bepositively driven by reason of the interposition of a pinion between tworacks. Any irregularities in the thickness of the metal, or anyimperfection in the alignment due to manufacture under the conditionsabove recited, will be compensated for by reason of the size andarrangement of the pinion and its cooperative relation to the two racks.Consequently, in this construction, it is possible to mount the variouselements between definitely associated friction bearings mounted inpredetermined planes having a parallel relation, and yet compensate forthe fact that the apparatus may not with-precision move in said parallelplanes because of the irregularity of the metal or imperfection ofworkmanship, yet such irregularity or imperfection will be compensatedfor by the length of the teeth of the pinion operating in conjunctionwith the said racks between which it isinterposed. I

My invention, therefore, consists of certain simple, strong and durableparts and combinations thereof, all, as will be hereinafterde scribedand claimed.

In order that, my invention may be clearly understood, I have provideddrawings wherein p Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation of aportion of a casing showing a sliding drawer and the supporting anddriving means combined therewith, the parts being in closed position; a

v elevation, the view being enlarged, and a secmember 3 rigidly. securedto the casing 1, theisupporting, carrying or floating mem-g on .thecasing member 3, and which is ,5, the latter being rlgidlfi Figure 2 isa view similar to Figure 1 showin t e the supporting; or floating memberof my mechanism;

Figure 6 is of the three parts of my mechanism in side tion only of theparts being shown; 7 Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 6, ofanothero form of my invention, the view being broken in two at severalpoints due to the limitations of the sheet, and the parts being shown'in partially extended relation; Figure 8 is aview similar to Figure 7,the view being-unbroken and shown in closed relation;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view substantially on the line 9.9 ofFigure 7; and Flgure 10 is a sectional view on the line 1010"of Figure7, the section extending onl part way down. 'gure 11 is a disassembledperspective view of the structure disclosed Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and,

,2,- the numeral 1 indicates the casing, or cab-' inet, or piece offurniture ill a merely con ventional manner, in order to'show or'sug- Ian application of m invention, and 2 indicates the sliding mel'n er, ora container or drawer adapted to slide within the casing upon mysupporting and mechamsm, the latter consisting of the casing ber 4,which slides within and is sup orted ven by and, in turn, supports thedrawer member secured to the side ,6'of-the drawer. It w be understoodthat I the three principal parts 3, 4: and 5 of my mechanism; areprovided on opposite sides of the land drawer 2, so that the de-.scription herein given of one set of (parts applies equally. to theother set, an "similar reference charactersare'used in both sets.

The details of construction of my supporting and driving mechanism areshown in Figures 3 to 6, inclusive. v v

In Figure 4, the fng-member 3 is shown to consist ofvthe main web orbody portion having an overturned and rebent flange 7,

the depending edge of which is part1 plain,

as indicated at 8, and. partly-forme mto a 7 rack-bar 9, the latteroccupying about -'one-. 1 half the length of the flan e and extendfromthe outer end inwar to about the middle ofthe member. portion of themember 3 is bent laterallg to provide a wide'track or support 10, an atThe ower or basewhich are similarly its inner edge: is upturned toprovide a re-' taining flange 11. Near its inner end, the

base portion 10 of themember 3 is provided in the casing at the bottomof the receptacle. a view showing the'interaction j The carrying orfloating member 4 is com at 14, to provide a casing within which a plate15 is fixed, the plate and the portion 14' cooperating to strengthen andreinforce posed of the web or bod portion, the upper portion of which isre ent upon itself, as

the member 4, and the plate being provided with a laterally extendingflange 16 adapted to cooperate with the member 5, as presentlydescribed. The floating member, at itsextreme inner end,is provided witha balladapted to operateadjacent the flange 8 of the casing member- 3,and to have traction on the overhanging portion 7 thereof. The

floating member 4 substantially midway its lenh, and near its upperedge, is provided wit a driving pinion 18, journaled at 19 ina cut-out20 of the reinforced portion of,

said member, the pinion meshing with the rack-bar 9 of the casin-member, and also with a rack-bar carried y the drawer mem ber, asresently described, The lower edge of the eating member 4 is providedwith a laterally extended support 21 terminating'in an upturned Hang 22extending the lehl'gth of'the member. ear opposite ends an .in themiddle of the support 21, apertures are provided through which operatethe periphv series of anti-frictional rolls 23'journaled in theflange 22and in the web ortion of member 4; The periphery of r0 5 23 is of twodifferent diameters, the larger diameter 24 having traction .on thesurface 5' .of the drawer member 5, as presently. described,

and the [smaller diameter 25 is only an enlargement of the spindle orshaft of the roller 23 and has no contact with the surface 21 of themember i 4. The larger diameter 2410f the rollextends through theapertures in the supporting portion 21 and contacts with the support 10of the casin member 3, making tractional engagement-t erewith; Thus, the

rolls 17,- and 23-operate against the top and bottom portions,respectively, of'the casing member 3, while the pinion'18 meshes withthe rack 9, the two members being thus ade gpately supported, the one bythe other, anti ictionally. The pinion 18 also bears a drivingrelationto the casing member 3.

body' portion. or. web

- The drawer member 5 is composed ofthe the opposite edges of v flangedright-angularly,

- portion 21,

as indicated at 26. A portion of the edge of the upper flange 26 isformed into a rackbar 27 which meshes with the pinion 18 for the purposeof driving the latter, and the horizontal portion of the said upperflange rests and practically rides ll])()ll' the flange- 16 of lloatingmember 4; while the edge of the lower flange reaches below and behindthe larger diameter portion 24 of the rolls 23, thus letting thehorizontal portion of the lower flange down so as to ride on saidportion 24 of the roll. Thus, the member 5 is retained behind the rolls23, rides upon the rolls 23, rides upon the flange 16 of the member 4,and drives, by medium of its rack-bar 27, the pinion 18, which in turnmeshes in the stationary rack-bar 9, thus causing the member 4 to travelrelatively to the casing member 3 and the drawer member 5, and at onlyonehalf the speed of the latter. Since the member 5 is rigidly securedto'thc drawer 2, and the latter is manipulated by the operator, thepinion is positively driven, whenever'the drawer is shifted, causing thefloating or intermediate member 4 to be positively driven,thus'overcoming any tendency of the latter to bind or be retarded in itsmovements. The member 5, at its extreme inner end, carries, on its innerside, within its longitudinal groove formed between the flanges 26, anantifrictional ball-bearing roll 28 arranged so as to have traction onthe bottom of the flange 16, of the floatingmember 4, thus preventingthe member 5, at its extreme inner end, from unduly rising, or movingtransversely to the length of the member 5, and also preventing theteeth of the rack-bar from jamming into the teeth of the pinion. At apoint near the middle roll 23,'the horizontal portion 21 of the member4, carries a pivotally mounted latch 29, the forward free end of whichpasses through an aperture 30 in said horizontal the said latchoperating automatically to check the travel of the floating member 4 bydropping into the aperture 12 in the horizontal portion 10 of the casingmember 3. This operation results from gravity' and prevents the member4from being shifted too far relatively to the member 3 and, being held inits extreme outer. position, member 4 operates as a rigid support forthe drawer in its extreme outward position. Approximately midway betweenits ends, see Figure 5, the member 5 carries a locking latch pivotallymounted at 31, and having a handle portion 32 and a weighted portioi 33.At the upper edge of the handle portion, a catch lug 34 is provided,adapted to operate in a slot 35, of flange 16, the forward'end wall ofwhich is engaged by the catch lug 34. Normally, the catch lug travels incontact with the under side of the flange 16 of the member 4, the weight33 maintaining the contact, so that, when the parts reach the positionshown in Figure 5, the member 5 is held from further movement, by thelug 34 automatically rising into the slot 35.

This occurs in the extreme; outer position of the member 5, and of thedrawer carrying the latter. However, the drawer may be lifted from itscarrying member or support 4 by presing upon the handle member 32, so asto depress the lug 34 from the slot 35.

One of the important features of my invention upon which I desire to laystress is the provision of a positive driving means between the drawermember 5, and the floating member 4, by which the floating member may ibe proportionally and positively shifted during the shifting of thedrawer member,-this mechanism embodying a stationary rack-bar, a.shifting rack-bar, and an intermediate, shifting pinion, which, duringits shifting movements, is caused to rotate upon its axis and thusactuate or shift the floating member to which it is journaled. Anotherfeature, upon which I desire to lay stress, is the arrangement of thepinion on a shifting member between a stationary rack-bar and a shifting rack-bar, the pinion being of such diameter as to compensate forvariations in the form or the surfaces of'the several relatively movablemembers and which variations may result from inequalities in the parts,poor workmanship, inherent characteristics of the metal or of themembers due to the mode of.

the teeth of the pinion and the teeth of the that there may beconsiderable play between 1 opposite and cooperating rack-bars, theforegoing compensation is provided for. As an illustration of what ismeant by the foregoing, I have shown a pinion, in dotted lines in Figure6, in a position slightly raised as compared with the pinion shown infull lines. This changed relation of pinion 18 may be brought aboutbyreason of unevenness or inequalities in the supporting portion 10 of thecasing member 3, which will cause the-floating member to rise relativelyto the casing member when the rollers 23 ride over the inequalities.Thus, by allowing play between the pinion and the rack-bars, suchinequali ties can be compensated I for without loss of drivingengagement or power and without jamming or: binding or retarding therespective members. Such compensation will also result should thehorizontal portion of the lower flange 26 of the member 5 developinequalities resulting in unduly shifting vertically the member 5 with atendency to more intimately mesh its rack with the pinion. Anotherimportant feature of my invention, upon which I desire to lay stress, isthe arrangementof anti-frictional rolls on the several members, togetherwith the pinion and rack-bars which bring about the uniform travel of'theparts relatively;- that is to say,

' dation in the movement of the parts, holds the drawer is universallycarried in a horizontal position, and has not at any time a tiltingaction relatively to the floating member 4, or the casing member 3. Thisprevents any tendency to binding, jamming or retarthe drawer always in ahorizontal position and avoids the necessity for anything other than aperfectly straight pushing or pulling action upon the drawer in a lineparallel'with the longitudinal walls of the several members of the suporting mechanism.

In thev orm of my invention shown in Figures 7 to 11,1 have shownanothermeans for positively driving the floating member relatively tothe drawer member and casin memshallow; bracket. '36 rigidl her, and atone-half the speed of the grmer. In these figures, parts similar tothose shown in Figures 1 to 6 are indicated by like referencecharacters.

. In this form of my invention, I have shown the intermediate member 4provided with a between which and the eating member a pulley 37 isjournaled. The circumference of this pulley is provided with. twoparallel grooves :38, in which travel, 1 respectively, 'wires 39 and 40.The wire 39, at its end 41", is removablyganchored in the top surface oftheextreme lnner end-of the drawer memher 5, and, after passingapproximately halfway around the pulley37, in its outer groove 38, isremovably anchored at its end 42 in the top flange of the casing member3. The other w1re'40' has one end 43' anchored in the topflange of thecasing member 3 at its forward end, and, 'afterpassing approximatelyhalf-- way around the pulley 37, in the inner groove 38, is anchored atits end 44 approximately midway of the drawer member in the top surfacethereofi In other respects, the features of. construction of theseveralmerhberain the form of my invention in Figures 7 to 1 0, are.substantially the. same as in'the construction of Figures. 1"

tot. The operation of-"the secondform of my invention is the same asthat of the first,

" and such operation be understood uponreference to Figures 7 and 8, inwhich latter figure the arts are shown closed relation,-

- while in igure-7 they areishown'ih partly extended relation, thedifference ,in s ed of travel andin' x Jthe oatingmember 4 relatively tothe draw: er and drawer member. In Figure 91):: have shown how thedrawer member 5 ma horizolnotglly extended for the purpose 0 forming'gidity, and may also-be flanged, as at 45, and

rebent uplon itself to provide means for 'attachin t edrawer thereto.Thus, provision is e fordetachably securing the drawer to .the member 5,and the latter p'rovldes a secured thereto,

reasons of economy. However,

tom tractionmember of considerable ri-" the drawer,

wearing of the drawer.

In all instances, my invention contemplates the employment of automaticstop devices, such as shown-in Figures 4 and 5, to prevent the floatingmember and the drawer from being shifted too far during ordinary operations. Therefore, while'such stop devices are notshown'in Figures 7 -to10, it is to be understoodthat their use is-contemplated and that theyare a part of such structure.

The mode of operation of the structures described is as follows: Whenthe drawer is shifted, the rack-bar 27 on the member 5 will rotate thepinion 18 and its reaction on the rack-bar of the casing member willcause the floating member to be shifted with and in the and tractionmember for the bottom same direction as the-drawer, but at only half thespeed. and half the distance of the latter. When the floating member isat its outer extreme, the rolls 17 and 23 prevent it from tilting, and,when the drawer and member -5 are at the outer extreme, the pinion 18and rolls 17 and 23, prevent them from tilting. At its outer extreme,the floating member is c hecked and held by the latch 29; and, at itsouter extreme, the drawer is checked and held by the catch 34. Theinteraction of the various-rolls and rack-bars and pinion hold themembers 4 and 5 and the drawer from tilting at all times.

In the form of my invention of Figures 7 to 10, the drawer member is thedrivin element for. the floating member, which is shi ed relativelytothe-casin and its fixed member at half the speed an half the distanceof the drawer and its, fixed member. Pulley 37 tot e movement of thelatter. The and pulle s, though subject to-slippa'ge, for various ovious reasons, are approximatel tive in their action. and may be'desira1e for rack-barand pinion'structure because of its literally positlveaction, its certainty of control, facility'in assemblin flexibility inoperation and simplicity 0 both structures, however,

shift of. the floa members affording a shifting support fort efdrawer,-coupled with the cessation of travel of the floa member In operation,when to e bodily s 'fted in the direction of 7 support afiorded'thedrawer proportionally pos1- s I prefer the construction. In t theproportional.

simultaneously with the cessation o travel of and the automaticinterruption of movement of the floating member and drawer at therespective terminals of'travel measeo the floating member; for, uponsuch features of construction depend the function of preventing thedrawer and floating member from i having any tilting action duringoperation and at the respective terminals of travel.

Claims: 1. A drawer support, having in combinas tion, a casing member, acarrying member entirely supported by said casing member, a drawermember entirely supported by said carrying member, and means between thecasing. and carrying members engaging. the

casing member,

a tween the casing and cam-yin Zoo :65 and supported bythe cas ng memdrawer member adapted to compensate for variations in said members,including rolls connected to said carrying member and engaging one sideof the drawer member and and a pinion journalled on said carrying memberengaged between the drawer member and caslng member, said pinion havingmeans thereon cooperating with said casing and: drawerjmembers forpositively driving the carrying member in the movement of the drawermember.

2. A drawer support, having in combination, a casing member, a carryingmember entirely supported by said casing member, adrawer member entirelysupported by said carrying member, and means between the casing andcarrying members engaging the drawer member adapted to compensateforvariations in said members, including anti-friction means between oneside of said drawer member and the carrying and casing members, and-means between the. drawer member and the carrying and easing membershaving positive driving cooperation with each for positively operatingthe carrying member in the operation of the drawer member. a v r 3. Adrawer support, having in combination, a casing member, a' carryingmember within the casing member, a drawermember within the carryingmember, and means begaging the drawer member a apted'to co mpensate forvariations in said'members, 1ncluding bearing means engaging one edge:of the drawer member and said casing mem-- ber, and a pinion rotatablymounted on the carrying member meshin between teeth on the opposite sideof the rawer member and said casing member for ber in t 4. A drawersupport, having tion, a casing member, a carryin member in r,adrawmembers en'-' in combinaer'v member in said carrying member, andmeansbetween the casing and carrying members engaging the drawer memberadapted to compensate, for variations in said members, including aseries of rolls mountedon one side of the carrying member at spacedlongitudinal intervals and engaging between the drawer member and thecasing member, and a toothed pinion rotatably mounted on the carryingmember, and having the teeth engaged in opposed rack-teeth on the drawerandcasmg members, said teeth having playtherebetween to permit relativelateral movement of the drawer and carrying members on the casingmember. a 1

Signed by me at Marietta, Ohio, this l day ofDecember, 1925. n J v CARLF. W OLTERS.

having teeth loosely interi ositivel driving said carrying memhemovement of said drawer member.

